Not fit for employment: Today's college graduates are unprofessional

10:40 AM,
May 13, 2013

Written by

Mark Bauerlein

I gave an exam last week, and one student showed up 25 minutes late. When the hour ended and I collected the papers, he looked up from his seat, cast a pitiable glance and mumbled, "Please, I got here late - may I have another 20 minutes?"

I shook my head and said, "Can't do that." His request echoed in my head all the way back to my office. Where in the world did he get the idea that an exam doesn't begin and end at a set time?

Employers call it an "employability skill" - work ethic, timeliness, attendance and so on - and they deal with it every day. Whenever the National Association of Manufacturers ...